The nation's largest collection of Southwestern native pottery is right here, carefully preserved, at Arizona State Museum.
More than 20,000 intact vessels in an astounding variety of shapes, colors and sizes make up the collection.
Exhibit space at the museum is so limited that only about 2 percent of the treasure can be displayed.
The museum ho1ds an annual open house - Oct. 25 and 26 - allowing artifact aficionados an opportunity to prowI the storage room walkways and admire the hídden treasures, pots, artifacts and cultural paraphernlia.
As a bonus this year, visitors will get to watch a digital process that will, by July, allow tours of the museum's pottery collections via the Internet, with QuickTime Virtual Reality.
The individual pots will be able to be viewed close up, electronically "picked up" and turned at various angles.
Representatives of the UA's Multimedia Learning Lab will be on hand to demonstrate the techuique and to show completed segments.
Admission is free to both days' events.
The open house is from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 25 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 26, when activities geared for youngsters will include hands-on beadwork, corn grinding, pinch-pot making, pump drilling and treasure hunts.
The Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society will sponsor its annual benefit book sale both days, with rare and one-of-a-kind books offered, along with
magazines and maps.
The museum is just east of University of Arizona's main gate at Park Avenue, and University Boulevard. For more details, call 621-6302, or go to www.statemuseum.arizona.edu.
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